ElectricalEngineeringIntroduction

Electricalengineeringisafieldofengineeringthatgenerallydealswiththestudyandapplicationofelectricity, electronicsandelectromagnetism.Electrical engineering, anamalgamationof what isnowcalledelectrical,electronicsandcommunication,instrumentation,computerengineeringetc.isthelargestofallengineeringdisciplines.Fourwellrecognisedbranchesofelectricalengineeringarepower, communications, electronics and control systems. In a broader sense, this field covers arange of subdisciplines including those that deal with power, optoelectronics, digitalelectronics,analogue electronics, artificial intelligence, control systems, electronics, signalprocessingandtelecommunications.Overlappingofthisfieldwithcomputerhasopenedupthedoortoacareerinalmostanyindustry.

The field of Electrical engineering involves transmission and generation of electrical power,electrical circuit design, electronics, instrumentation, control system, understanding electrical andelectronic networks etc. Electrical engineering is considered to dealwith theproblemsassociatedwith largescaleelectrical systemssuchaspowergenerationand transmissionandmotorcontrol,whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of smallscale electronic systems includingcomputersandintegratedcircuits.Itincludesthedesignandbuildingofelectroniccircuitsbasedonthe flow of charge through different materials. Alternatively, electrical engineers are usuallyconcernedwithusingelectricity to transmitenergy,whileelectronicengineersareconcernedwithusingelectricitytotransmitinformation.

Electricalengineering isabranchofengineering thatdealswith thestudyofdiverseutilizationofelectricity and equipments that generate and distribute power. This is divided into heavy current(electrical machinery generating stations and distribution systems) and light current(telecommunications, radar, computers etc.). Conventional areas like generation, allocation,distribution and transmission of electricity come under the purview of electrical engineering. Thebroad fieldofelectricalengineering involvesworkingwithallmannersofelectronicdevices, frompocket calculators tosupercomputers. In this area, the engineers' task involves generating,distributing and using electrical power in the fields of communication, control system, electroniccomputer,industrialelectronicsandinstrumentationetc.

NatureofWork

Electrical engineers design and develop electrical systems, research new and innovative designsand system, supervise and planmanufacturing process of high end electrical systems. This roleprovides a number of challenges ranging from problem identification and the selection ofappropriatetechnicalsolutions,materials, testequipmentandprocedures,tothemanufactureandproductionofsafe,economical,highperformanceproductsandservices.

Electricalengineersworktocombinetechnologywithcreativity,takingideasandturningthemintoreality.Infact,electricalengineersareinvolvedinthepracticalapplicationofelectricalenergy.

Electricity has become the basic need for survival. From household to industrial plants,communication and satellite navigation system, electronic equipment, computers etc., all requireelectricity.Henceelectricalengineeringwhichdealswithstudyandapplicationofelectricalsystemsis widely applicable in each and every aspect of our daily life. Virtually every industry utilizeselectricalengineers,soemploymentopportunitiesareextensive.

Education&Eligibility

Educational : A bachelor's degree in Engineering is the minimum requirement to become aqualifiedelectricalengineer.Apostgraduatedegreeisrequiredforresearchorteachingpostsandanadditionaldegreeinbusinessadministrationisdesirableformanagementpositions.

Engineeringcoursesareavailableattwolevels.Therearethe(B.Sc./BE)degreesandpostgraduate(M.Sc./ME) degree courses offered by the engineering universities and colleges and the diplomacourses(DAE/B.Tech)availableatpolytechnics.

The basic eligibility criteria for a B.Sc./ B.E in Electrical Engineering is F.Sc. or equivalentexamination, with high percentage of marks in Science subjects (Physics, Chemistry andMathematics). While for post graduate programs, one should have done B.Sc./B.E/ in electricalengineering. The program can either be studied alone or can be combined with electronicengineering.Onecanevenopt forsuperspecialtyorPh.Dprogram inelectrical engineering. Forthe purpose, the person should have done M.Sc./M.E in electrical engineering or electrical andelectronicsengineering.

Selection:Selectiontothegraduatecourses(B.Sc./B.E)isbasedonmeriti.ethemarkssecuredinMetricandF.Sc.andthroughentrancetest.

Duration:B.Sc./B.Ecoursesareof4year'sduration.ThediplomaandB.Techcoursesareof23year'sduration.PostGraduatecourseM.Sc./M.Eisof2yearsduration.

AbilitiesRequired:Anelectricalengineerneedtohaveasharp,analyticalandpracticalmindand

attention todetails.Theyshouldbeable tograspandadapt tonewandchangingconcepts.Goodcommunication skills are also important to communicate their ideas to others in their field. Heshouldbegoodatorganizingandsolvingproblems.Hemayneedtoworkunderpressureandhavetheability to keep calmduring crisis.Alongwith various other personal attributes onemust alsohavededicationandcommitmenttowardstheprofession.

Asuccessfulelectricalengineerpossessesnotonlyanunderstandingofhisareaof concentration,butalsoabroadgraspofengineeringingeneral.Anelectricalengineerisexpectedtohavedetailedknowledge of electrical networks, electrical energy converters and equipments that useselectromagneticfieldtheory,electricalenergydistributionsystemsetc.

JobProspects

Scope in electrical engineering lie in the areas of generating electricity, its distribution andtransmission. As everything from house to industry requires electricity to function, there aretremendouscareerprospectsinthisfieldinPakistanaswellasinotherdevelopedcountriesacrossthe world. Electrical engineering has a wide scope of applicability and it varies depending upondifferentneeds.

Different types of employers offer jobs to electrical engineers. Employers range from computertechnology corporations and chemical companies to power and telephone companies. Both smallandlargecompaniesintheprivatesectorandthegovernmentsectorofferplacementforelectricalengineers. Electrical engineers can find employment in Electrical equipment and systemsmanufacturing companies, Power generation and transmission, Telecommunication, Railways, ITindustry, Health care equipment manufacturing industry, public sector industries like petroleum,steelandchemicalindustry,Researchanddesignetc.

CareerOptions

Electrical graduates are employed in Electricity companies and large industries as engineers andmanagers, responsible for installation,maintenance, operation of power handling equipments andsystems. Industriesmanufacturing large electricalmachines and equipments employ engineers indesign,productionand testing.Electrical engineersalso findemployment in atomicpowerplants,hydroelectricpowerplantsaswellasthermalpowerplants.Manyelectricalengineeringgraduatesoptforcareersinthefood,pulpandpaper,chemical,aircraftandautomobileindustries.

Educational Institutions and Research establishments recruit electrical engineers as faculty andscientists. One can also do research work in this field by joining research labs and institutes.Teachingcareerisalsorewarding.Theycanjoinanengineeringcollege/universityasafulltimeorparttimelecturer/professor.Theycanalsoenterintoselfemploymentbystartingownventures.

As an Electrical Engineer, entry for junior posts in the Government departments is by directrecruitment through advertisements in newspapers. Selection to Gazetted posts isthroughcompetitiveexaminations(CSS).

YoungengineershavechancesintheDefenceServicesalso.ForselectionintotheDefenceServicesPakArmedForces(Army,AirForce,Navy),applicationsareinvitedthroughNationaldailies.